Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Blog

Charlotte Police Have Powerful Tool To Extract Info From Suspects’ Cellphones :: Charlotte North Carolina DWI DUI Criminal Attorney Lawyer

Published on: February 19, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “Do I need to hire an attorney if I have been falsely accused?”

A recent incident involving criminals robbing a hotel in South Charlotte was solved thanks to the help of technology. While the cameras at the hotel were useful, another device that proved a great benefit to officers was the suspect’s own cellphone. The reason is that the suspected criminal’s cellphone was used by police to place him at the scene of several crimes at exactly the moment when the offenses occurred.

Officers with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Westover Division say that using data contained in the suspect’s cellphone allowed them to clear more than a dozen thefts from their books. They said that before the records were reviewed they received the proper warrants to access his cellphone data. A spokesman said, “The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department always obtains a court order in compliance with state and federal law before tracking mobile phones except in cases involving exigent circumstances.” Cell phone 2.jpg

So far the department has been quiet about this tactic, afraid that warning potential criminals will cut down on the usefulness of the tool. Despite that, locals with experience in criminal justice have come forward to say the practice is actually quite widespread. CMPD has revealed for instance that it has a contract with a company called Cellebrite which makes a box that can be connected to thousands of different cellphone models and even tablet computers and then extract current and deleted information.

A local professor who teaches cell phone forensics says that technology in existence today is precise enough to detect even slight changes in location. Officers plug a device into the cellphone which then extracts data that can later be accessed on a department computer.

North Carolina Police Departments Move To Create Yet Another DNA Database :: Charlotte North Carolina DWI DUI Criminal Attorney Lawyer

Published on: February 14, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?”

News out of several North Carolina counties reveal a big push across the state to create yet another DNA database. Rather than a government database holding DNA evidence for those convicted of violent crimes, this database will be privately operated and exist to hold DNA material from property crimes.

Alamance County, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Wilmington are among the departments embracing the new plan. A total of at least eight agencies have committed to the program and another 20 North Carolina police departments have expressed an interest.

DNA Vial.jpg The company involved, DNA:SI Labs, is building a database that is meant to solve petty crimes and property crimes, such as car thefts and home break-ins. Many of these crimes take place across various cities and the hope is that by collecting DNA evidence at several scenes, police officers will be able to link together crimes and have a better chance of catching the perpetrators.

The new database will not change the current DNA collection practices for violent crimes, which will still be sent to the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory and the state Bureau of Investigation. The new system, The Local DNA Index System (LODIS), will also be much more responsive than the existing system. Rather than waiting as long as year to get results, DNA:SI Labs says that it will return results within 30 days of submission. The ability to move fast is important in preventing future crimes.

General Assembly Proposal To Cut Judges Would Lead To Overcrowded Superior Court Dockets :: Charlotte North Carolina DWI DUI Criminal Attorney Lawyer

Published on: February 12, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “I was found not guilty of a charge, but my record still shows the charge.”

A recently proposed bill working its way through the North Carolina General Assembly would cut appointed superior court judges across the state, including one here in Mecklenburg County. The piece of legislation, Senate Bill 10, proposes cutting 12 judges to help shave more than $2 million from the state’s budget.

These special judges work by traveling across the state and filling in where they are needed. They keep the already crowded dockets moving when regular superior court judges are out or busy with other, lengthy cases. The judges hear serious civil and felony criminal cases and can be a much needed release valve for the massively overscheduled judiciary. Budget Cut.jpg

Our very own Charlotte, NC criminal defense attorney, Brad Smith, was interviewed by reporters with WSOC TV about the proposed piece of legislation. Smith pointed out that rather than save the state money, the removal of the judges would actually end up costing everyone more in the long run as already crowded dockets would grind to a halt. By trimming these traveling superior court judges, existing clerks and judges will have to worker harder and longer hours, complicated trials will clog up dockets with no relief from extra hands and more money will be spent transporting and housing criminals while they await trial.

Driving Without A License In North Carolina :: Charlotte DWI DUI Criminal Lawyer

Published on: January 31, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?”

According to a recent article with MyFox8, the issue of unlicensed drivers in North Carolina has become a serious problem, one that has prompted law enforcement agencies across the state to take notice. Recent statistics reveal that one in every seven drivers in North Carolina is behind the wheel without a valid license. Those numbers raise alarm in the law enforcement community and have prompted some departments to begin cracking down, actively searching for those behind the wheel when they should not be.

According to data from AAA, a whopping 21 percent of deadly accidents in the state involve an unlicensed driver. Another report says that nationwide, 18.2 percent of such fatal crashes involve unlicensed drivers. Between 2007 and 2009, AAA estimates that such unlicensed drivers were involved in crashes where 21,000 people died.

Another issue for those driving without proper permission is that unlicensed driving often leads to other criminal acts. For instance, AAA says that the majority of fatal hit-and-run accidents involve an unlicensed driver. That means that when the driver is ultimately located an additional criminal charge will be piled on top of driving without a license.

Those in the state pushing for a crackdown on unlicensed drivers also point to the financial cost of such accidents. Unlicensed drivers are by their very nature uninsured drivers, which means that when an accident occurs, the other party’s insurer will typically have to foot the bill. This added expense is passed along to everyone else by way of increased monthly premiums to account for the risk associated with unlicensed drivers.

$80,000 Worth of Prescription Drugs Stolen From Gastonia, NC Pharmacy

Published on: January 29, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “Should I ever plead guilty to a charge?”

A pharmacy in Gastonia, NC was burglarized last week just an hour before the shop was due to close. Cameras on the premises of Akers Pharmacy show the man as he broke through the glass front door of the pharmacy. The whole episode was shockingly fast; he was in and out of the store in less than 60 seconds and his speed indicated that he knew exactly what he was after.

The police have revealed that $80,000 worth of prescription drugs were stolen in the heist. The prescription drug thief stole opioids, a major target of such robberies. Police say the man concentrated his robbery on hydrocodone and oxycodone, two especially powerful and especially addictive drugs. The lone robber was able to get away with more than half the store’s supply of both drugs, a major haul. Mortar and pestle.jpg

So far police have said that security cameras were able to capture several different images of the suspect and that they may have an idea of who he is. The investigation remains ongoing while all leads are explored.

Charlotte DWI Checkpoint Leads to 89 Charges

Published on: January 24, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “What should I do if I have been pulled over and I have been drinking ?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkXqqkt-0KI

Officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department worked with three other agencies Saturday night in a DWI checkpoint that resulted in almost 90 charges. Mecklenburg County ABC law enforcement, Mint Hill police, and UNC Charlotte police all took part in the checkpoint.

Officers set up the traffic stop around the 5800 block of Wilkinson Boulevard and operated it from about 11:00 p.m. Friday evening until 3:30 a.m. the next morning. Of those charged, 12 were arrested for driving while intoxicated. Surprisingly, three of the 12 arrested for DWI were under 21-years-old.

In addition to the DWI charges, 13 drivers were cited with driving while their license was revoked and nine more for driving without an operator’s license. Three drivers had an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and 11 were cited for various drug charges. One person was taken in for an outstanding warrant and officers issued 40 other citations for various traffic charges.
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There is almost no way to prepare for a DUI checkpoint if you are out and about. There is usually no warning and once you are there it is too late to turn back. If you find yourself stopped at a checkpoint in North Carolina there are a few things to remember, especially if the police suspect you might be driving under the influence.

Charlotte, NC Criminals Arrested After Selling Stolen Goods to Undercover Officer

Published on: January 22, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

If you’re going to be a thief one important rule that is good to keep in mind is to never sell your stolen goods to a police officer. Unfortunately, three teens in the Valley Dale community forgot that lesson and are now in jail as a result. According to WCNC, earlier this month burglary investigators arrested 19-year-old Jeremy Moody, 17-year-old Detevin Butts and 18-year-old Tai-Quan Rodgers on burglary charges.

The story began when a woman, who has declined to be identified, walked out of her house Monday morning and realized her car had been stolen. She was stunned and immediately called the police to report the crime. Police detectives believe the thieves stole the woman’s care to help haul off stolen goods given that her BMW was reported near the scene of two other break-ins in the area.
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The three men attempted to sell their stolen goods, but one of the potential buyers became suspicious and called police to report the situation. After the tip, CMPD officers mobilized and called the suspected criminals posing as a buyer, which led to their eventual arrest. Police have said they are currently attempting to figure out how many other robberies can be tied to the group of thieves.

Crime in Charlotte Schools On the Rise

Published on: January 17, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

School Desks.jpg According to data collected by WBTV, schools located in South Charlotte saw an increase in crime rates along with those in the rest of the district. The increases were caused largely by a jump in crime at Alexander Graham, Community House and Quail Hollow middle schools along with South Mecklenburg High.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released statistics that showed violence and crime incidents at Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools increased and there are now 11.33 acts per 1,000 students, up slightly from previous years. Though the crime in South Charlotte was on the rise, it still falls well below the district average, with only 8.36 acts per 1,000 students. This represents a rapid rise given that 2010-2011 saw only 6.42 acts of violence or crime per 1,000 students.

The biggest increase occurred in South Charlotte middle and high schools. At South Charlotte middle schools, 14.67 violent acts were committed per 1,000 students, up from 13.78 incidents per 1,000 students last year. The increase was largely attributed to an increase in the possession of controlled substances at Alexander Graham, sexual assaults at Community House and possession of weapons at McClintock and Quail Hollow.

One thing that school officials pointed out was that the increase in possession of weapons had nothing to do with guns. Items like syringes and Swiss Army knives count as weapons. In one incident, even a pencil eraser thrown from the window of a moving school bus counted.

Expect an Increase in the Number of Dashboard Cameras in North Carolina Patrol Cars

Published on: January 15, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

It was announced recently that several North Carolina communities would be pursuing money to put additional dashboard cameras in police cars. According to a recent report by WBTV, the city of Gastonia has announced its intention of purchasing some 60 in-dash cameras for Gastonia Police Department patrol cars. This comes after legislators have said they are also interested in rigging more of state highway patrol cars with the cameras.

As things stand now, more than half of the highway patrol cars in Charlotte do not have in-dash cameras. A spokesperson for the NC Highway Patrol says that tight budgets have prevented the department from equipping its cars with the cameras. The gadgets are quite expensive, and can run up to $5,000 a piece.

Despite the high cost, almost everyone agrees that the cameras can be extremely useful for both police officers and members of the community. The public can feel safe knowing that the officers are being watched and that if they behave inappropriately or illegally that their actions will be caught on camera. Several cases of police brutality across the country have been brought to light thanks to such cameras.

Law enforcement officials believe the cameras can be helpful in terms of providing evidence of what took place during a traffic stop. If at trial there’s a discrepancy over what took place, a quick look at the video can resolve the dispute. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department was involved in a case last year that proved the value to them of in-dash cameras. A teenager sued the department for injuries she claimed she sustained while being arrested. The video showed that the teen strangled herself with her own seatbelt while in the back of a CMPD patrol car.

Driving While Nervous Thankfully Not a Crime in North Carolina

Published on: January 10, 2013 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled a few weeks ago that police in the state have no right to stop a car merely because the occupants appear to be nervous while driving.

The case involved an incident back in April of 2011 when police officers from Sampson County were operating a speed trap on I-40. The officers noticed a green minivan that dropped its speed from 73 to 65 mph, something that apparently was deemed suspicious by the officers given that it was a 70 mph zone. The officers further claimed that the occupants of the minivan appeared nervous and stared straight ahead as they passed the officers.

The Sampson County officers eventually pursued the van and, as they pulled alongside, noticed that the occupants never made eye contact with the officers. The officers said that the van was driving slowly and crossed a fog line, thus justifying their decision to pull the vehicle over. However, a video from the patrol car shows that the van never crossed the fog line or engaged in any other unsafe driving maneuvers.
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The driver of the van was given a warning by the officers and agreed to a search of the vehicle that revealed a revolver and rifle belonging to her ex-husband and passenger. The ex-husband, Nathaniel Canty, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. However, after Canty filed an appeal, the North Carolina Court noticed problems with the original traffic stop.